DONS ARE OFF AND RUNNING

Three red cards at Pittodrie but Aberdeen show they're not for giving up grip on Cup

- SCOTT BURNS AT PITTODRIE

PETER LEVEN showed a video of last year's Scottish Cup heroics to fire up his new-look side to defend it.

But it took two of Jimmy Thelin's Hampden heroes, Kevin Nisbet and Graeme Shinnie, to provide the on-field inspiration.

The duo's goals in a game featuring three red cards secured a quarterfinal clash away to Championship outfit Dunfermline, who have already claimed the scalp of Hibs.

The Dons finally buried their Motherwell hoodoo at the fifth time of asking, having drawn only one of their previous four encounters this season.

They had to dig deep and rip up the form book, although they were helped by reds flashed to Oscar Priestman and Liam Gordon in each half. Aberdeen also had Dennis Geiger sent off in between those but ended up a man up and two goals up with a third of the last-16 left.

Jens Berthel Askou will know this was a big opportunity missed while Aberdeen can dream of a Hampden return, leaving themselves one game from a run-out in Mount Florida.

The teams may have played each other three days earlier but there were numerous changes to both starting XIs.

Interim boss Leven made four switches with Shinnie and Jack Milne coming back from bans.

Matty Connelly, who signed a new deal this week, got the nod in goal ahead of Calum Ward in one of six changes by Askou.